American Spies on Pirellis Rocks WSBK Opener

American Spies on Pirellis Rocks Records and Racers in WSBK Opener Win.

The Pirelli spec-tire World Superbike series blasted into the 2009 racing season with awesome racing contested by the world’s widest range of brands, riders, teams, and competition, with the results measured in hundreds of a second. The Superbike superstars of WSBK began their season at Philip Island, Down Under, on seven different makes of motorcycles, and one make of tire, Pirelli.

The American champion from the former format of AMA Superbike, Ben Spies, set the Philip Island track afire by taking pole position in the newly designed, spectator-spectacular Superpole. Not only did Spies make his mom, his home state and his home country proud with the first pole possible in the 2009 WSBK season, he also set a new Philip Island track record. And all that after sending notice earlier in the weekend with the fastest time in first practice.

Race One was won by Noriyuki Haga on his Ducati 1098R, with Max Neukirchner a scant 0.032 seconds behind in second. Spies ran wide on lap one, taking himself out of contention for the podium, but it was perfect for the American in Race Two with Spies taking a win in his first World Superbike event, by a hugely small margin of barely one second.

What does this mean for you?

World Superbike will be at Miller Motorsports Park Memorial Day weekend, May 29-31, in Tooele, Utah, bringing to America the super show of seven factories fighting for the biggest prize in Superbike racing, with local boy Ben Spies mixing it up at the front. The brands competing in the big show are Aprilia, BMW, Ducati, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Yamaha.

The Miller event will feature many added attractions in 2009 including World Supersport joining the show. Pirelli will also have special events during race weekend and is currently running a contest for purchasers of Pirelli Diablo Corsa III or Diablo Rosso tires to win a trip for two to the USA WSBK event (www.getpirelli.com). Miller Motorsports Park hosts the only North American WSBK event in 2009.